Fianna Éireann, organised as a youth hurling league, for boys
and girls, existed in West Belfast, ca. 1903 (see Witness
Statement of Bulmer
Hobson to the Bureau of Military History, 1948). This was the
brainchild of Bulmer
Hobson (see Hobson's Statement to BMH), a committed IRB member.
Hobson relocated to Dublin and the organisation collapsed in
Belfast. In Dublin, Hobson became acquainted with Constance
Markiewicz, Helena Moloney and others, who were all
members of the newly founded Sinn Féin. They were members of the
Drumcondra branch. Hobson told Markievicz of his Belfast experiment
and the seed was sown with her. With Helena Moloney and Sean McGarry,
Markievicz and Hobson soon recreated a new Fianna Éireann. Prior to
the setting up of Na Fianna in Dublin in 1909, it has now
transpired that Lord Baden
Powell had reportedly unsuccessfully sought the assistance of
Patrick Pearse
in setting up a branch of his Boy Scouts in Dublin. ("Talk History"
radio programme, Newstalk Radio, 18 August 2009)

Irish
Volunteers

As Na Fianna Éireann had been organised four years earlier than
the Irish Volunteers, and that many of its members were now young
adults, fully trained in many aspects of warfare, it was no wonder
that many young members transferred over to the the Volunteers in
1913. The original committee which set up the new volunteer
movement had three Fianna members on it. (Hobson, ibid.) Seamus
Pounch was instrumental in the training of the newly formed Cumann
na mBan in 1914. (Witness Statement of Seamus Pounch)

An Cead
Sluagh

An Cead Sluagh (The First Sluagh) was set up in Camden Street in
August 1909. (Witness Statement of Garry Holohan). Na Fianna fell
into line with the Irish Volunteer organisation in 1915. The term
"Sluagh" was dropped in favour of "Company" and the brigade area of
Dublin mirrored that of the Volunteers. (Witness Statement of Sean
Pounch)

Fianna Éireann
Handbook

As with all scouting organisations, an instructional handbook
was a necessity. The job of producing this book fell to Seamus
O'Riain. With articles from Patrick Pearse and Roger Casement,
and advertisements from suppliers of uniforms and equipment, the
first Fianna handbook appeared in 1913. It came at a time when the
Irish Volunteers was founded and the book was widely used by this
group also. Countess Markievicz bought a large rambling house at Ranelagh, Surrey House. It
became the unofficial headquarters of Na Fianna for some time. The
older boys would gather and train here, and a mini firing range was
set up in the basement. The boys also had a radio set in operation
and this led to a raid from the DMP. A proper HQ was later set up
in D'Olier Street. (Witness Statement of Gary Holohan)

Gun
Running

Na Fianna played a major part in the Howth and Kilcoole gun-running
episodes. Fianna members brought their treck-cart to Howth Pier to
meet the Asgard. The treck-cart was full of homemade batons, and
these were distributed to the Volunteers on the pier. The cart was
then used to carry the surplus rifles back to the city. At Clontarf, the
DMP and British Military were awaiting the return of the volunteers
and a confrontation ensued. Fianna officers made a quick decision
and detoured with their gun-laden cart up the Howth Road, arriving
eventually at Kilmore Road, Artane, where the arms were safely stored for
future recovery. (Holohan, ibid.)

1916
Insurrection

Fianna was represented at all the garrisons that were involved
in the fighting of Easter Week 1916. Even though they were now more
heavily involved with the Irish Volunteers, Cornelius Colbert and Seán Heuston
were still regarded as Fianna members. Colbert was under the
command of Eamonn Ceannt at Watkins Brewery, while
Heuston was given the task of commanding the Mendicity Institute.
Colbert and Heuston both were executed for their part in the
Rising. In Galway, Liam Mellows was in
command of activities, but he escaped capture and got safely to to
the United States. Countess Markievicz, second in command to Michael Mallin at
the College of Surgeons, was sentenced to death, but eventually
reprieved due to her gender. After the provisional government
abandoned the GPO, and set up HQ at Moore Street, James Connolly
gave command of the GPO to Seán McLoughlin, a Fianna officer. His
orders were to oversee the safe retreat of the rest of the
occupants. (Witness Statement of Eamon Martin)

Several of the Fianna were killed in action at this time. Seán
Healy was shot dead at Phibsboro whilst delivering despatches, Seán
Howard and Seán Ryan died in similar fashion. Volunteers under the
command of Fianna officer Paddy Houlihan captured and burned down
the Linenhall Barracks. Eamon Martin, a future Chief of Staff was
seriously wounded at the Broadstone Railway Station. Possibly the
first shots of the Rising were fired by Fianna officers who
attacked and captured the Magazine Fort in the Phoenix Park. Gerald
Playfair, an unarmed teenager and the son of the fort commander,
was shot and killed by Garry Holohan as he [Playfair] ran to raise
the alarm at Islandbridge Barracks. (Holohan, ibid.)

Internment

At least fifteenn Fianna officers from the Dublin Brigade were
rounded up after the Rising and interned at Frongoch, North Wales.
(Witness Statement of Eamon Martin)

Inspector Mills of the
DMP

One year after the Rising, a large demonstration was held
outside the burnt-out shell of Liberty Hall. A large contingent of
DMP, under an Inspector Mills, arrived and the Riot Act was read to
the crowd. The police waded into the crowd with batons and
Inspector Mills was struck a mortal blow to the head with a hurley
stick. His assailant was Ernie Murray, a young Fianna officer, who
was O/C of a Sluagh on Parnell Square. Murray made off from the
scene along Abbey Street, pursued by a DMP man. He was cornered at
Marlborough Street, but he drew a revolver and the policeman backed
off. Murray was secreted away to the United States, where he
remained until the Truce of 1921. (Holohan, ibid.)

Post
1916 reorganisation

A provisional governing committee was set up in Dublin in May
1916, including Eamon Martin, Seamus Pounch, Theo Fitzgerald, Liam
Staines and Joe Reynolds. All had evaded the round-up after the
Rising. This committee functioned until January 1917, when it
handed over command to the newly released senior officers. (Witness
Statement of Joe Reynolds)

Na Fianna was first to re-organise after the Easter Rising of
1916. In February 1917 a section of Na Fianna marched in full
uniform to mass at Blanchardstown, County Dublin for Michael Mallin,
who had been executed following the Easter Rising. "As the police did not
interfere, we got courage and got bolder and bolder. On one route
march, the police at James Street stopped us and an Inspector of
the DMP grabbed me. However, as the Fianna scouts became so
threatening, I was released." (Witness Statement of Garry
Holohan)

Na Fianna continued to defy the British ban on marching and
parading, and drilled openly with hurleys in open defiance. This
inevitably led to clashes with the DMP and the RIC in outlying
areas. The most notable clash occurred in July 1917, when the whole
Dublin Battalion went on a route march through the South City and
County. Efforts were made by the DMP to stop the march and break it
up at Terenure and Rathmines DMP stations, but the paraders broke
through the cordons at both points. The march continued to the GPO,
where the parade was dismissed. (Witness Statement of Aodh Mac
Neill)

Reorganisation of June
1917

An intensive recruiting campaign had been set in motion
throughouthe city and county after the earlier reorganisation of
January 1917, and it proved to be a tremendous success. Recruits
came in large numbers and new companies were formed. In June, the
Dublin Battalion had become so large and unwieldy, that it was
decided to set up a Brigade structure of two battalions. The county
was simply split in two, with the Liffey as the divide. South of
the Liffey became the 1st Battalion and north of the Liffey became
the 2nd Battalion. The Dublin Brigade Staff in June 1917 comprised
Garry Holohan (Commandant), P.J. Stephenson (Adjutant) and Joe
Reynolds (QM).

Army
Agreement

It came to the attention of GHQ Staff c1918, that in many areas
around the country that Na Fianna was being controlled by the local
units of the Irish Volunteers. A meeting of Fianna GHQ
representatives and Volunteer representatives was held in Dublin to
discuss the problem. What emerged from this meeting was known as
the Army Agreement. From that point on, the Volunteers would not
seek to control Fianna in their areas. Those who reached the age of
seventeen had transferred to the Volunteers ranks; this would now
cease and any transfer would be voluntary. The volunteer O/C was to
liaise with the Fianna O/C on all local matters, and due
consideration was to be extended to Fianna. During the "Tan War"
Fianna members featured prominently in every brigade area. Some
lost their lives or were imprisoned. In the picture taken of the
West Mayo Brigade Active Service Unit in 1921, ten of the thirty in
the photograph had been members of the Westport Fianna Sluagh, as
had Tom Derrig, who rose to the rank of Adjutant General during the
Civil War. (Westport Fianna Sluagh, Westport Historical Society
Journal, 2007 publication.)

Truce

During the Truce, Na Fianna devoted a great amount of time to
training. At least three full-time training camps were set up to
train potential officers. Each prospective officer had to attend
the camp for one weeks training. One of these camps was held at
Kilmore Road, Artane and another at Kilmashogue Mountain. Na Fianna
held discussions all over the country where they debated the terms
of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. At an Ard Fheis,
Fianna rejected the Treaty and called for all to still work for a
Republic. In support of this, the Dublin Brigade's Fianna Éireann
marched to The Smithfield where they were reviewed by senior
Republican leaders. (Poblacht na h-Eireann, 16 January
1922)

Civil War

Fianna Éireann played a major part in the civil war fighting,
especially in Dublin. When the Four Courts Garrison was attacked in
July 1922, a second front was created to relieve the Four Courts.
The Dublin Brigade, Fianna Éireann provided many leaders in this
period. All along the eastern side of O'Connell Street buildings
were taken over and barricaded. Parnell Square and Parnell Street
were similarly barricaded. Fianna, under their new Brigadier, Seán
Harling, took over 35 North Great Georges Street as a barracks.
(Bureau of Military History, Witness Statement of Seán
Saunders)

In August 1922 (the same month that saw the deaths of Michael Collins
and Arthur
Griffiths), Na Fianna Éireann sustained a heavy blow when two
of their senior officers in Dublin, Seán Cole and Alf Colley, were
shot dead by Free State Army Intelligence members at The Thatch,
Whitehall.

Brigadier Alf Colley, killed during Irish Civil War at
Whitehall, August 1922

Bodies of Cole and Colley at the Mater Hospital mortuary, 28
August 1922

Executions

The bullet-riddled corpses of three teenaged Na Fianna scouts Edwin Hughes (17), Joseph
Rogers (16) and Brendan Holohan (16) were found at the Red Cow
Roundabout, Clondalkin, on 28 November 1922. They were all from
Drumcondra and had been putting up republican posters in the
Clonliffe Road district. They were arrested by Charlie Dalton
(younger brother of Emmet Dalton) and Nicholas Tobin, two
high-ranking Free State officers. The scouts were brought for
interrogation to Wellington Barracks, where Free State Army
Intelligence had their HQ. That was the last time that they were
seen alive. When the Free State started to execute Republican
prisoners, the first to be shot were four young men who had left Na
Fianna to join the Republican Army. They were followed by another
group of three, who had similarly graduated from the ranks of the
Dublin Brigade, Fianna Éireann. ("War News" No. 37, 3 December
1922)

Liam Mellows, executed on 8 December 1922

The executions of Rory O'Connor, Joe McKelvey, Liam Mellows and Dick Barrett became
a symbol for Na Fianna. They became known as "The Four Martyrs".
Until 1964, an annual concert was held by Na Fianna to commemorate
their executions. A very prominent ex Fianna officer, Aodh MacNeill
(son of Eoin
MacNeill), officiated at the executions. Eamon Martin related
that he was a cellmate of Mellows in Mountjoy Prison. It is now
estimated that some 22,000 people were interned during the Civil
War period 1922-24. Fianna Éireann was decimated with the loss of
most of its officers and the organisation went underground until
well after the general release of prisoners in 1924. There was mass
unemployment then, and most young men had to emigrate to survive.
This left Na Fianna more or less leaderless for a few years. After
the Civil War, Seán Harling became the leading light in Na Fianna
Éireann. The Special Branch of An Garda Siochana eventually
compromised him and turned him into an agent provocateur. For years
he posed as a leading Fianna officer and Republican. He was
eventually exposed by IRA Intelligence. Two former Fianna members
made an attempt on his life 1n 1928, but Harling escaped and
actually shot dead one of his attackers—Tim Coughlan. Harling was
secreted out of the country by the Special Branch and ended up in
the U.S. until his return in 1933 to Ireland. (Report of Inquiry
into the death of Tim Coughlan, 1928, at NA.)

Fianna
proscribed

The Free State government brought in new legislation in 1931 to
counter the popularity of the resurgent Fianna. Fianna Éireann, the
IRA and Cumann na mBan were all classified as illegal
organisations. Many arrests followed and these organisations had
once again to go underground for a period. When Fianna Fáil was
elected to power the following year this legislation was revoked
and the prisoners were freed. In 1932, many young republicans
switched allegiance from the republican movement to Fianna Fáil. In
1934 the Fianna Fáil government set up a version of the Free State
CID, when they enticed members of the Dublin Brigade IRA to join
the the Special Branch of An Garda
Siochana. IRA volunteers were sworn in as Gardaí detective
officers and were issued handguns, ammunition, badges and whistles.
They were under the control of Ned Broy of the CID and became known as the
"Broy Harriers". ( The term "Broy Harrier" was first used in the
Seanad by Senator O'Rourke during the discussion on the Garda
Siochana estimates on 13 August 1933. (Report of Seanad debate,
National newspapers, 14 August 1933)

Post WW2
reorganisation

Fianna Éireann did not operate openly between 1939-47 due to
coercion, internment and lack of suitable leaders. Any person that
showed leadership and organisational skills was monitored by the
special branch, and were eventually interned. A group of young boys
was organised in the Pipers Club in Thomas Street under the name of
Clann Piarsaigh. Tom Lyons, an ex internee, was the man who led
this group and they were the forerunners of the Fianna that emerged
after WWII.

There was a general reorganisation of the Republican Movement
when the prisoners were all released by 1947.The IRA took Na Fianna
under its wing. It now appears that the first Chief Scout of Na
Fianna after the reorganisation was Tomas Óg MacCurtain of Cork
(United Irishman newspaper, November 1948) who emerged
from Portlaoise Prison after a general
amnesty given by the Fianna Fáil government in 1946. He had been
imprisoned for shooting dead a special branch detective in Cork. He
had been given the death sentence, but because he was the son of Thomas MacCurtain, the sentence was
commuted to life imprisonment. MacCurtain put Na Fianna back on
track and around 1950 the reins of leadership passed to Dick Bell,
who, in turn, passed the reins of leadership to Ned Kelly in 1952.
When Kelly was dismissed from the republican movement in 1954, he
was replaced as Chief Scout by George Darle from Drumcondra. Darle was a
nominee of the IRA and he brought some new blood into the
organisation. (United Irishman, January 1955)

Chief
Scouts 1948-1969

1948 Tomas Òg MacCurtain, Cork

1950 Dick Bell, Cabra and Finglas, Dublin

1952 Ned Kelly, Dorset Street, Dublin

1955 George Darle, Drumcondra, Dublin

1957 Pat Madden, Cork

1959 Jimmy Cruise, Pearse Street, Dublin

1960 Brian Murphy, North Strand, Dublin

1962 Vincent Keane, Finglas, Dublin

1965 Liam McNulty, Finglas, Dublin

Old
Fianna Organisation

Fianna Éireann survived the Civil war period intact, they had
sided with The Republic. The organisation was decimated then, and
further disintigration occurred in 1926 when Fianna Fáil was
founded. When WW2 broke out, the old IRA and old Fianna
organisations marched as a body to Griffith Barracks in Dublin and
they joined the Irish Army there as a separate battalion. When on
parade, this battalion was allowed to fly the Fianna and Oglaigh na
h-Eireann flags. When the war was over these bodies stayed intact
and had premises at Parnell Square. They marched in Bodenstown with
Fianna Fáil and attended all the usual commemorations organised by
the government. (Irish Press, 9 August 1940)

In 1953, the Old Fianna organisation issued an invitation to Ned
Kelly (Chief Scout) to meet with them. The Old Fianna reportedly
offered their Fianna flag to the Fianna of 1953. However, when
Kelly heard that the flag would be handed over in a military
barracks in an official ceremony, that was unacceptable, and the
parley proved fruitless. The old Fianna petered out in the late
1950s. (Fianna Eireann notes, United Irishman, September 1953)

Adjutants General ca.
1954-1965

1954 Brian(?)McConnell, Cabra

1957 Alfie Lane, Cork

1959 George Gavan Duffy, Delgany, Wicklow

1960 Vincent Keane, Finglas, Dublin

1962 Liam McNulty, Finglas, Dublin

1950 and
after

The Republican Movement was again decimated by internment,
emigration and dissension, as a result of the Second World War. By
1948 there were signs of re-organisation. Fianna Éireann, as an
organisation, was moribund. Tomas Òg MacCurtain of Cork was put in
charge as a caretaker Chief Scout. Around 1950, Dick Bell, of Old
Cabra, Dublin, was then elected as Chief Scout. There was no one
place that Na Fianna could claim as their Headquarters, and they
depended on the use of old buildings that were in Republican
ownership, or owned by Republican sympathisers. There were premises
at 9 Upper Blessington Street and 32 Blessington Street, the Kevin
Barry Hall on Parnell Square and another on North Frederick Street.
(from Fianna Eireann notes, United Irishman, December
1952)

In 1952, Ned Kelly of Long Lane, Dorset Street, Dublin, became
Chief Scout. Soon he gather around him a cadre of young leaders and
had four Sluaithe running in the Dublin area. These were at North
City, Drimnag/Crumlin, Dundrum and Finglas. He had as his adjutant
Brian McConnell from Swilly Road in Cabra. His QM was Annrai
MacGloin, from Bohernabreena.

Sluaithe in
1952

Dublin;

North City,

Dundrum,

Drimnagh/Crumlin,

Finglas.

Cork City,

Tralee,

Newry

Limerick City,

Tullow, Co. Carlow,

Newbridge,

Dundalk,

Belfast (no information available)

Na Fianna suffered another blow in 1955 when Ned Kelly was
dismissed from the IRA and he subsequently resigned from Na Fianna
(United Irishman, March 1954, p. 3). At this time,
older Fianna boys were attending at IRA training camps, where they
would do the cooking and run on errands. It became known that Ned
Kelly had broken the rules by allowing Fianna boys to handle and
use the weaponry. Ned went on to become Field Commissioner for the
CBSI. (Personal interview with Ned Kelly, ex-Field Commissioner
with the CBSI, while researching Fianna Éireann history in
2007.)

Saor
Uladh

In 1954/55 a serious split occurred in the republican Movement.
Activists, led by Joe Christle, became disenchanted with the
leadership. They were looking for armed action in occupied Ireland,
but were being restrained by the Army Council. This breakaway group
called themselves Saor
Uladh. They also set up a youth group, and unfortunately called
themselves Fianna Éireann. They had a 'Chief Scout' called Gearoid
O'Kelly, who previously had a Fianna Sluagh in Newbridge, but was
now living in Ballyboden. This 'Fianna' had one Sluagh at
Inchicore, with members mainly from the Drimnagh/Crumlin area. They
were unrecognisable from members of Na Fianna Éireann. One serious
clash occurred between these groups, later in 1959. Around 1955
Kelly was replaced as Chief Scout by George Darle from Drumcondra.
Darle brought some new members into Na Fianna, including Frank Lee
and Terry Kiely. They set about reorganising Na Fianna and soon new
Sluaithe were being formed in Navan, Dundalk, Drogheda and Sligo. A
new modern uniform was also mooted at this time. (Fianna Éireann
weekly notes in Dublin Evening Mail, August 1958)

The Border Campaign by the IRA began in December 1956 and it led
to Na Fianna losing many of its members, especially in Dublin. In
January 1957, 38 IRA recruits were surrounded in a house, used as a
training camp, in Glencree, Co. Wicklow. At least 12 of these had
been members of Na Fianna in the Dublin Battalion. This was a great
set-back at the time, and responsibility now fell on the younger
members to carry on with the organising. Finglas, for instance, had
lost its O/C, and its QM. (Fianna Eireann notes, United Irishman,
February 1957)

Uniform
changes ca. 1958

The uniform in 1958 was basically the same as when Fianna was
founded in 1909 and some members were advocating change. Scouts
wore a green blouse with two rows of brass buttons, an orange
neckerchief, slouch hat, blacks shorts and a white lanyard that was
attached to his scout whistle. Officers were still wearing riding
breeches and a military type jacket, slouch hat and a Sam Brown
belt. As slouch hats were hard to find, berets became the head
dress for officers. Different type uniforms were mooted and an
American Boy Scout pattern was decided on. Scouts would now wear a
green shirt with two pockets and a military-style side hat. The
uniforms eventually arrived and were first seen at the annual Dick
McKee Commemoration in Finglas Village in November 1958 (United
Irishman, December 1958, p. 3). Eventually, the side hats
were replaced by a green beret, and the long trousers for officers
were replaced by black shorts or breeches again. Lee and Kiely left
Na Fianna after a falling out. (Fianna Eireann notes, United
Irishman, March, 1959)

No information, owing to the political situation at the time -
internment

Derry

No information, owing to the political situation at the time -
internment

Jubilee Camp
1959

A committee was sent up by GHQ in 1958 to commemorate the 50th
anniversary of Na Fianna's founding. Chief scout Jimmy Cruise
headed this body and it was decided to hold a camp in central
Ireland for all Fianna sluaithe. Permission was given by the Patrician
Brothers, Ballyfin, County Laois, to use their extensive
grounds for this purpose in August 1959. These were years when
money was scarce and travelling made difficult. Consequently, only
about 100 Fianna members attended the camp. Each sluagh catered for
itself and there were joint activities organised. The Special
Branch of An Garda Siochana was busy while the camp was in
progress, visiting the homes of Fianna members, especially the
young scouts, telling the parents that the boys were on an IRA
training camp. Quite a few members were lost this way. In 1959,
Fianna was given the privilege of having its colour party lead the
annual pilgrimage to the grave of Wolfe Tone at Bodenstown. A report to the Ard Fheis in
1963 showed that, as well as the sluaithe mentioned above, there
were now new units in Roscrea, Nenagh, and Ballyfermot/Chapelizod.
A new department had been set up which catered for friends of Na
fianna who were either too old to join, or were not in a position
to do so. This was known as the dept. of Associated Members. This
new section was run by the Adjutant General. (Fianna
newspaper, January 1964)

Fianna Officers, Bodenstown, 1959

Fianna colour party, Bodenstown 1959

Junior
members

Fianna had always catered for boys between the ages of eleven
years and sixteen years. About Around 1959 a new idea was put in
place to cater for younger boys. This was the brainchild mainly of
a Fianna officer from the Finglas Dick McKee Sluagh, Paul Shannon.
With the assistance of some Cumann na mBan members, boys as young
as eight years were allowed into the ranks of Na Fianna. They wore
a plain green sweater and yellow neckerchief. This venture was an
immediate success and most Sluaithe followed suit.

Fianna
Handbook

A committee was set up circa 1963 to gather funds in order to
produce a new Fianna handbook. All of the committee were members of
the GHQ, and included Liam MacAnUltaigh, Deasun O'Briain, Brian
Mulvanney, Uinsionn O'Cathain and Tony Shannon. Funds and
advertisers were procured and a new handbook appeared ca. 1965.
This was the third edition of the handbook, the others having been
printed in 1913 and 1924. (Fianna Handbook advertised for sale in
United Irishman, January 1965)

Arrest
of Fianna officers

Around November 1963 action was taken against Gearoid O'Kelly
who was posing as "Chief Scout" of Na Fianna. He was constantly
seen about Dublin on weekends, collecting money in pubs for
'Republican Prisoners Dependents'. He was warned several times to
desist, but continued to carry on. On a Saturday night in November
1963 he was stopped near his home at Ballyboden Road, Rathfarnham, by a party
of armed men. They bundled him into a field and "tarred and
feathered" him. The consequence of this action was that about
eleven senior officers were arrested by the Special Branch the
following Monday morning and brought to the Bridewell. (Reports
from National newspapers of the date) After a few hours, O'Kelly
was brought in to try and identify those who may have assaulted
him. The officers were all brought into one room and O'Kelly viewed
them through a glass panel from an adjoining room. No one was
detained, and most had alibis, as they were at an Ard Coiste
meeting at Gardiner Place at the time of the assault and had been
seen entering and leaving the building by the Special Branch men
who constantly watched that premises. O'Kelly had also fallen out
with his 'Fianna' and two of his associates (Weldon and Phelan),
spent six months in prison for assaulting him. He gave up his
activities at this stage. (report of court case in National
newspapers of the date)

Ireland's Fianna Boys

By; Maura Stafford, Galway. (To the air of Roddy McCorley.) This
was a favourite marching song of na Fianna in the 1950's and
60's.

O see those green-clad marching lines, swing down O'Connell
Street.

Each head erect, each lad in step, in time with every
beat.

In streaming folds the Sunburst's gold, above them proudly
flies.

Scoffers may stare, what do they care, they're Irelands Fianna
boys.

If Mellows could see our lads today, his heart would glow with
pride.

Con Colbert and Sean Heuston too, 'twas not in vain they
died.

For honour and truth inspires each youth, he serves the cause
with joy.

And to God and his land is pledged the hand of each young
Fianna boy.

Forward for freedom soldier-scouts, you're Ireland's chosen
sons.

And for Her sake, the rifles take, the day the fighting
comes.

And from that day let no man say, that Ireland sleeping
lies,

For a new generation rises from those dauntless fianna
boys

Activities

The 1950's and 1960's were very active years for Fianna members.
A Sluagh usually held one meeting per week, where all met on parade
in full uniform. All the usual scouting test work was undertaken,
games played and instructions given regarding hikes or camps on the
following weekend. Weather never held the scouts back from the
'great outdoors', and Fianna members could be encountered in all
weathers , especially in the Dublin/Wicklow mountains. This was a
time when much military surplus clothing and camping equipment was
coming on the market in the aftermath of the Korean War of 1951/2.
One Sluagh, Finglas, actually had snow tents. These were ex British
Army and were suitable for camping out in all types of weather.
Another favourite weekend pastime was 'shacking'. Throughout the
mountains were numerous old deserted houses (shacks), and at
weekends Na Fianna would use them for shelter. One favourite one
was called 'Thunders' in Glencree. Another was in the Glen of the
Downs, beside Delgany Village, where there was a Fianna Sluagh.
All-night hikes were a favourite with the officers. The last bus
out of town to Rathfarnham, Enniskerry or Bohernabreena would be
taken, and then the group would march all night across the hills to
where they would pick up the first bus back to the city again.
Youth-hostelling was also undertaken and this was a favourite with
the younger scouts. Hostels such as Glencree, Baltyboys and
Knockree were all within striking distance of the buses from
Dublin.

Republican commemorations were constantly being held and Na
Fianna was obliged to turn out in full to them. The annual Easter
Commemoration was usually the first on the calendar. The parade
would line up at St.Stephens Green and march all the way to
Glasnevin Cemetery. On the same day, a parade was usually held in
Blackrock or Deans Grange Cemetery as well. The Wolf Tone
Commemoration was next in line, usually on the last Sunday in June.
This was usually a great day out. Trains would come from Dublin,
Cork and Kerry for the occasion, and buses from all parts of the
country: it was a festive occasion. In November there was held the
Manchester Martyrs parade and concert, and in December Na Fianna
always hosted the Four Martyrs Concert in Dublin. In between all of
these occasions, there were many times when Na Fianna was invited
to provide colour-parties and contingents in various parts of the
country to commemorate fallen republican soldiers. It was an era
when many headstone, memorials and wayside crosses were
erected.

Many republican demonstrations were held in these years to
protest against internment and coercion. Na fianna always played
its part on these occasions and were highly visible on the streets
when needed. A major source of income always came from the sale of
the Easter Lily at Eastertime. Many times the boxes and contents
were confiscated by the Garda, as Na Fianna never applied for
permits.

Splits

The organisation split into factions with differing political
views and ideologies over the subsequent decades, in a manner
comparable to that of the various organisations claiming the title
Irish
Republican Army. Following the 1969/70 split in the Irish Republican Army
and Sinn Féin, two
organisations claiming the title of Fianna Éireann emerged. One was
aligned with the Provisional IRA. The other was aligned with
the Official IRA.